. 1. Experimental Course 2. Course TItle 3. Course Credits 4. Course Number S. Course Level 6. Pre- and Co-Requisite

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1 db Document N: Course and Program Development: IMPACT AND APPROVAL SIGNATURES See Course and Program Development Policy and Procedures ( for instructions. SCHOOL: 0l.AW OMSB o CAS OCPA CONTACT NAME: L:;ll;;;..au;:.;,r..:...:ie;,.:H...:,;a;;,..r..;;,.ow;:.;......I1 PHONE: L..;14_4..;..57~ ---, DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: IL..S_Ch_O_O_I_of_l_a_w --I\ DATE PREPARED: 112/17/14 PROPOSED SEMESTER OF IMPLEMENTATION: o fall o spring YEAR:\2015 TYPE OF add (new) o deactivate o modify o other LEVEL OF ACTION: o noncredit o graduate o other ACTION BEING REQUESTED (select one category, either Course Actions or Program Actions): o COURSE ACTIONS o PROGRAM ACTIONS Original Subject Code/Course Number: ILAW 810 Original Course Title: IThe Wire: Crime, law and Policy Original Program Title: Select one or multiple actions from one of the lists below (review the list ofnecessary documen ts and signatures I:.f. 1. Experimental Course 2. Course TItle 3. Course Credits 4. Course Number S. Course Level 6. Pre- and Co-Requisite! 7. Course Description 8. New Course 9. Deac:tlvate Course 22. Other I Program Requirements 11a. Undergraduate Specialization (Fewer than 24 credits) I llb. Master's SpeCialization (Fewer than 12 credits) 11c. Doctoral Specialization (Fewer than 18 credits) I 12. Minor (add or delete) 13. Closed Site Program 14. Pr<lgram Suspension 15. Program Reactivation 16a. Certificate Program (UG/G) exclusively within existing degree program 16b. Certificate Program (UG/G) outside of or across degree programs (12 or more credits) 17. Off-Cam pus Delivery of Existil!8 Pr<>g!ams 183. Undergraduate Concentration (24 or more credits) 18b. Master's Concentration (12 or more credits) 18c. Doctoral Concentration (18 or more credits) 19. Program Title Change 20. Progr:am Termination 21. New Degree Program 22. Other ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (check all appropriate boxes of documents included; review the list ofnecessary documents): \j1i summary proposal (0) III course definition document (P) o full five-page MHEC proposal (0) o financial tables (MHEC) (R) o other documents as may be required by MHEC/USM (S) o other(t) Summer

2 IMPACT REVIEW (review the list ofnecessary signatures): Impacted Entity Signature Date a. library Q no impact o impact statement attached b.ots. Qnoimpact o impact statement attached c. University Relations Qno impact o impact statement attached d. Admissions Q no impact e. Records o no impact o impact statement attached o impact statement attached I APPROVAL SEQUENCE (review the list ofnecessary signatures): Approval level Signature Date A. Department/Division (Chair) B. General Education (for No.7, 8) C. Final Faculty Review Body Within Each School (Chair) 1Vvt'~~ l-?t-15 O.Dean E. University Faculty Senate (Chair) a7/l ~ 1 1- ).2.'1) - F. University Council (Chair)l /l G. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs ~ ;f + ~ ~/f-lr- H. President I. Board of Regents (notification only) J. Board of Regents (approval) K. MHEC (notification only) L. MHEC (approval) M. Middle States Association notification Required only if the University's mission is changed by the action 1 University Council review (for recommendation to the president or back to the provost) shall be limited to curricular or academic policy issues that may potentially affect the University's mission and strategic planning, or have a significant impact on the generation or allocation of its financial resources. Summer

3 ub Document 0: Course and Program Development: SUMMARY PROPOSAL See Course and Program Development Policy and Procedures ( for instructions. SCHOOL: o LAW OMSB 000 OCPA CONTACT NAME: I,,;;IL;::;.au;:;;r..:.;ie:..H;.;.a;:;;r..;.o,,:,;w~...J1 PHONE: '-'14;.,.;4.;;.,57,; DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: &..;.IS.;;.,Ch... O_O_I... of_la_w I1 DATE PREPARED: 112/17/14 PROPOSED SEMESTER OF IMPLEMENTATION: fall 0 spring YEAR: ACTION BEING REQUESTED (select one category, either Course Actions or Program Actions): COURSE ACTIONS o PROGRAM ACTIONS Original Subject Code/Course Number: Original Program Title: /LAW81O Original Course Title: IThe Wire: Crime, Law and Policy Select one or multiple actions from one of the lists below (review the list of necessary documents gnd signatures): For changes to existing courses: OLD TITLE IDISABILITY LAW CLINIC ISUBJECT CODE/COURSE NO./LAW CREDITS 13_---'... NEW TInE IThe Wire: Crime, Law and Policy ISUBJECT CODE/COURSE NO. ILAW 810 1CREDITS 12_---'... Summer

4 DESCRIBE THE REQUESTED COURSE/PROGRAM ACTION (additional pages may be attached if necessary): New experimental course to be offered in Fall Course will be taught by former UB President, Robert Bogomolny. Course Title: The Wire: Crime, Law and Policy Catalogue Description: This course explores legal and policy issues raised by David Simon's critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Among the topics explored will be searches, confessions, police manipulation of crime statistics, race and the criminal justice system, prosecutors' incentives for charging and dismissing cases, honesty and accountability of law enforcement, government power and access in the war on drugs, and the distribution of resources in the criminal justice system. *LAW 810 is no longer actively offered as Disability Law Clinic. Disability Law Clinic is currently offered under LAW 800E Disability Law Clinic. SET FORTH THE RATIONALE FOR THIS PROPOSAL: Offered in experimental format for determination if the course is successful and to allow re-design after offering once. Statement of Marketability of the Course The Journal of Legal Education, Volume 64, Number 1 (August 2014), explores the use and value of courses using The Wire as a vehicle for learning by many professors in a wide range of law schools. At William and Mary, for example, enrollment in the course has been very high and students have consistently shown great interest in its subject matter. At UB, the fact that The Wire is set in Baltimore will add interest for students. Summer

5 ub DOCUMENT P: COURSE DEFINITION See Course and Program Development Policy and Procedures ( for instructions. 1. DATE PREPARED 12/17/ PREPARED BY Laurie Harow 3. DEPARTMENT/DIVISION School of Law 4. COURSE NUMBER(S) with SUBJECT CODE(S) LAW XXX 5. COURSE TITLE The Wire: Crime, Law and Policy 2 6. CREDIT HOURS 7. CATALOG DESCRIPTION This course explores legal and policy issues raised by David Simon's critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Among the topics explored will be searches, confessions, police manipulation of crime statistics, race and the criminal justice system, prosecutors' incentives for charging and dismissing cases, honesty and accountability of law enforcement, government power and access in the war on drugs, and the distribution of resources in the criminal justice system. 8. PREREQUISITES Pre-requisite: LAW 604 Criminal Law/ Pre- or Co-Requisite: LAW 711 Constitutional Criminal Procedure I 9. COURSE PURPOSE (how the course is to be used in the curriculum; e.g., required for the major, elective, etc.) Experimental Course 10. GENERAL EDUCATION AREA (if applicable; e.g., social sciences, humanities, mathematics, etc.) None 11. COURSE TYPE/COMPONENT (clinical, continuance, discussion, field studies, independent study, laboratory, lecture, practicum, research, seminar, supervision, thesis research, tutorial or workshop; this must match PeopleSoft 9.0 coding, so check with your dean's office if you are unsure of the correct entry) Summer 2010

6 Lecture 12. FACULTV QUALIFIED TO TEACH COURSE Robert Bogomolny has worked as a lawyer at the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and also at the U.S. Bureau of Drug Abuse Control. He also worked on criminal law reform at the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit foundation in New York. After leaving Vera, Bogomolny became a Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University, primarily teaching criminal law and related courses. While at SMU, he ran a police project with the Dallas Police Force. He then became Dean of the Cleveland Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, where he taught criminal law. Before coming to UB, Bogomolny served as General Counsel for G.D. Searle, a multi-national pharmaceutical company. At UB, he served as President for 12 years. 13. CONTENT OUTLINE 1. Realities of the drug trade --Characteristics of drug offenders --Economic realities for drug dealers 2. Wiretap law -Overview of wiretap law with special emphasis on Maryland --Qualifying for a wiretap authorization --Executing a wiretap 3. The crimes of the drug trade --Possession of a controlled substance --Possession with intent to distribute --Quantity of drug possessed --Conspiracy 4. The Fourth Amendment in the Real World --Does the Fourth Amendment Protect Average People? --Reality of Fourth Amendment on the Street --Do the Police Actually Know and Follow the Fourth Amendment 5. Interrogation: The Law and Reality --Does Miranda offer protection? --Do police follow the rules? --Are court decisions consistent with what really happens? Does it matter? 6. Sentencing --Indeterminate sentences versus sentencing guidelines --Value of and impact of mandatory minimums 7. Informants --The law and rules governing informants -The ethics and ramifications of the use of informants 8. Problems of Policing --Police Conduct -Brutality --Corruption --Institutional and political pressures Summer 2010

7 14. LEARNING GOALS The goal of this course is to deepen students' knowledge of criminal law and procedure through considering issues within the context of real-life situations. We will investigate a number of legal and policy matters raised by The Wire, including searches, confessions, prosecutorial discretion, sentencing, and law enforcement accountability. We will look at doctrinal choices made by courts and legislatures and attempt to assess results, both anticipated and unanticipated. We will consider the limitations of these choices in light of the society in which they occur. Finally, we will look at the effectiveness of our legal, political, educational and media systems in dealing with crucial issues of urban life. 15. ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES Students will be graded on both class participation and a final paper. Class participation will account for 15% and a scholarly paper for 85% of the final grade. 16. SUGGESTED TEXT(S) and MATERIALS (e.g. textbooks, equipment, software, etc., that students must purchase) 1. The Wire (Seasons 1 through 5) 2. Gershowitz, The Wire: Crime, Law, and Policy (Carolina Academic Press 2013) 17. SPECiAl GRADING OPTIONS (if applicable) SUGGESTED ClASS SIZE 19. LAB FEES (if applicable) Summer 2010

8 Text and Required Materials Syllabus: The Wire: Crime, Law, and Policy The Wire (Seasons 1 through 5) Gershowitz, The Wire: Crime, Law, and Policy (Carolina Academic Press 2013) Topics and Assignments WeekI The Reality of Life in the Drug Trade The Law of Wiretapping Assignments: Watch the first two seasons of The Wire Prior to class Read text pp & Week 2 The Law ofdrug Possession Proving the Crime of Possession with Intent to Distribute Assignment: Read text pp Week 3 The Fourth Amendment in the Real World Assignments: Read text pp & Week 4 Interrogation: The Law and the Reality Assignment: Read text p Week 5 Hamsterdam: How Should the Criminal Justice System Respond to Drugs? Hamsterdam: Police Discretion Hamsterdam: The Politics of Crime and Drug Legalization Assignment: Watch Season 3 of The Wire, Episodes 1 through 11 Week 6 Compstat: Crime Fighting Breakthrough of Invitation to Manipulation? Prisoner Reentry: The Cutty Dilemma Assignments: read text pp &

9 Week 7 Indeterminate Sentencing vs. Sentencing Guidelines: Should Avon Barksdale have Been Eligible for parole? Mass Imprisonment of African-Americans Assignments: Watch Season 3, Episode 12 Read text pp Week 8 Assignment: Stop and Frisk TBA Week 9 Distribution of Resources in an Overburdened System Assignments: Watch Season 4 of The Wire, Episodes 1-8 Week 10 Read text pp The Law, Ethics, and ramifications ofinformants and Snitching Assignments: Watch Season 4 of The Wire, Episodes 9 &10 Week 11 Read text pp Police Brutality: The Law and the Sociology Assignments: Watch Season 4 of The Wire, Episodes 11 & 12 Readtextpp Week 12 No Class- Professor available for paper reviews on Monday and Tuesday Week 13 Testifying and Other Police Dishonesty Assignment: Watch Season 5 of The Wire, Episodes 1-3 Week 14 The Influence ofthe Media on the Criminal Justice System Assignments: Watch Season 5 of The Wire, Episodes 4-10 Read text pp